Bowling table apparatus



L. H. SMITH BOWLING TABLE APPARATUS Oct. 13, 1936.

Filed April 4, 1934 Patented Oct. 13, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOWLING TABLE APPARATUS Louis H. Smith, El Cajon, Calif.

Application April 4, 1934, Serial No. 718,919

4 Claims.

My invention relates to bowling table appara- 1311s, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a bowling table apparatus which is played in a manner analogous to ten pins but utilizes ball members inplace of pins;

Second, to provide an apparatus of this class which is particularly suited for small sizes so that it may be placed on a table or the like;

Third, to provide a bowling table apparatus which incorporates a novel means of positioning the pin balls, said means also forming a backstop;

Fourth, to provide a bowling table apparatus incorporating a simple means of collecting the pin balls and casting balls as they are used to facilitate rapid resetting of the apparatus;

Fifth, to provide a bowling table apparatus which utilizes a chute means adapted to be variously positioned for directing the casting balls at the will of the player; and

Sixth, to provide on the whole a novelly constructed bowling table apparatus which is compact, durable, eificient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my bowling table apparatus; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the rear portion of the bowling table apparatus, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View thereof through 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

Box frame I, alley 2, side walls 3, pin balls 4, journals 5, backstop and positioning plate 6, weight bar 1, stops 8, ball collecting tray 9, casting balls Ill, and casting chute II, constitute the principal parts and portions of my novel bowling table apparatus.

A box frame I is provided which may be provided at one end with a drawer la to receive the ball members, etc, used in the game. The top of the box frame I forms an alley 2 of any desired length, a rear section of which is slightly inclined, as indicated by 211. The alley 2 is bordered by side walls 3 which increase in height at the inclined portion 2a. Said inclined portion 2a is provided with a series of small apertures 2b arranged in any geometric form such as a triangle as used in'the game of tenpinsl The several apertures 2b form depressions upon which rest a number of pin balls 4, one over each aperture Zb/ r The alley 2 stops a short distance forwardly of the rear end of the box frame but the side walls continue to beyond the extremity of the alley.

Rotatably supported between the side walls 3 by means of journals 5 in spaced relation to the extremity of the alley is a combination backstop and positioningplate 6. Said plate is approximately the width of the alley and is so journaled that it may lie flat upon the inclined portion 2a thereof, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. The plate 6 is provided with a series of openings 6a which register with the several apertures 22). The openings 6a are large enough to pass the pin balls 4 so that when the plate is positioned upon the inclined portion 2a the pin balls may be readily and quickly positioned upon the apertures 2b. The plate 6 tends to maintain an upright position by reason of a weight bar 1 positioned along its lower side which extends below the journals 5. The plate is prevented from continuing beyond a vertical position by means of stops 8 projecting from the'side walls 3.

Below the plate 6 and extending forwardly thereof to a point below the alley 2 there is provided a ball collecting tray 9. The bottom of the tray 9 slopes rearwardly and extends beyond the side walls so that balls which have rolled from the alley 2 may be readily and quickly collected.

The pin balls 4 are engaged by casting balls H3 which may be identical in size. The casting balls l0 are adapted to roll down a casting chute H. Said casting chute is in the form of a bar with a semi-circular channel along its upper side. The elevated end of the chute II is provided with a handle Ila and said chute is adapted to be positioned with its lower or rearward end anywhere along the forward or receiving end of the alley 2, as shown in Fig. 1. It is intended that the chute should be directed in any suitable manner towards the pin balls so that the casting ball will tend to knock as many as .possible into the tray 9.

Operation of the game is essentially as follows: The pin balls are set by use of the plate 6 and said plate is returned to the position shown in Fig. l, whereupon one or more casting balls l9 are rolled one at a time down the casting chute H so as to engage the pin balls. After the requisite number of tries the balls are re- V trieved from the tray 9, the plate 6 is again positioned horizontally and the pin balls which have been knocked away maybe returned; it being'noted that the pin balls remaining on the alley are not disturbed by the plate 6.

7 Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited torthisparticular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as "set forth in the appended claims.

balls at an end of the alley, and a combined alley backstop and pin ball positioning device for facilitating the positioning of said pin balls 7 on said supporting means and stopping the balls at the end of the alley.

1 -2. A bowling table apparatus comprising, an

alley, pin balls, means for supporting said pin balls at an end of the alley, a ball receiving tray positioned below and behind said alley, said alley being inclined in part toward said tray whereby pin balls dislodged from said supporting means gravitate to said tray, and a combined alley backstop and pin ball positioning device for facilitating the positioning of said pin balls on said supporting means and stopping the balls at the end of the alley.

3. A bowling table apparatus comprising, an alley, pin balls, means for supporting said pin balls at an end of the alley, a ball receiving tray adapted to' register with said supporting means to facilitate positioning of the balls thereon when in one position and forming a ball backstop for said alley ,whenin another position.

4. A bowling table apparatus comprising, an

alley, pin balls, means for supporting said pin] balls at an end of the alley, a ball receiving tray positioned below and behind said alley, said alley being inclined in part toward said tray whereby pin balls dislodged from said supporting means gravitate to said tray, a plate mounted in pivotal relation behind and spaced from the alley, .said plate having pin ball receiving apertures adapted to register with" said supporting means to facilitate positioning of the balls thereon when in a horizontal position, and weight means on said plate tending to retain the samerin a vertical position whereby the plate forms a backstop for the alley. V r

' LOUIS H. SMITH. 

